Why Get Prepared

Fire season seems to be lasting longer and longer with each passing year, and for many of us living in rural communities, fire concern is a year round worry. Since 2021, the south county communities, in particular, have experienced several fires, including the Caldor Fire. No one ever thought that size of fire could happen in our community. The "it won't happen to me" mentality caught a lot of people, and continues to catch people off guard, leaving communities destroyed, lives changed forever, and an uncertain path to recovery.

Although we could never be fully prepared for every situation, we can be prepared enough to help ensure our safety during an emergency or disaster. Therefore, we encourage you to push what ever is holding you back from getting prepared, and join us in getting you, your household and our community prepared. One day you may be really grateful you made time to protect all that matters most to you.

How Prepared Are You?

Take this short assessment to see how prepared you, your family, home and property are for an emergency or disaster. Click on the button below if you would like to open this assessment in a separate window.

Disaster Preparedness Assessment

Disaster Preparedness Workshops

Motivating people to prepare for disasters is challenging. That is why WSF has worked really hard to develop a Free Disaster Preparedness Workshop with a new approach that is practical, simple, productive and at the same time fun. At the end, we want you to breathe a sigh of relief, knowing your household is better prepared if a disaster were to threaten our community again.

You will receive easy to use checklists, information signs and necessary forms to make the evacuation and recovery process less stressful. You will be going home with items, such as a FREE basic 2 person, 72-hour Go Bag, emergency cards, and so much more that will get you one step closer to being prepared.

We guarantee the Disaster Preparedness Workshop will not be your typical sitting in a dark room watching a power point presentation while someone talks, probably saying things you have already heard one too many times. Fun, beneficial, thought provoking and interactive activities are scheduled, and individuals who have lived through disasters, and experts in the field of disaster management, will share their relatable experiences. The workshop will go by quickly and you will leave feeling empowered to continue taking the steps to be better prepared for a disasters.

Disaster Preparedness Workshop Overview

A Place to Start

Focuses on the importance of being prepared. Practical and easy to use and understand information, forms and checklists will be distributed to ensure the participants take lifesaving actions.

Don't Do It Alone

Focus on the importance of getting acquainted with people in your neighborhood and community, prior to a disaster occurring. You will be given information to help identify what specifics you might need during an evacuation and how to connect with people that can help meet those needs, making this stressful time more manageable.

Safety Barrier

Protect your home, whether you own or rent it. Wildland fires are the greatest threat in El Dorado County. For this reason, defensible space, home hardening and fire-resistant landscaping will be explained. Information related to other types of disasters or human caused emergencies that could happen in EDC will be identified too.

Essentials

Essential items you need to take when evacuating. Go Bags and more lifesaving items will be provided.

Help is All Around

Identifies players during a disaster response. Local, state and federal agencies offering disaster assistance will be identified and their specific roles explained. In addition, the non-profit organizations that show up to help will be introduced. Knowing how to connect to these agencies and organizations can make life a lot easier for disaster survivors.

Preparedness Pays Off

What to expect after you have been evacuated. Victims, turned survivors, of the Caldor Fire will share their experiences. How to prepare to go home, whether it is to an actual house, or all that is left of one, will be discussed. What to do if you encounter wildlife, and especially if they are injured, when you get back to your property will be explained.

Where To Go

What you need to safely evacuate people and animals and how to quickly get out of the way of danger. Knowing where to go after leaving your home will be discussed to minimize confusion.

Let's Chat

Critical importance of communication during disasters. Methods and resources will be discussed to help access clear, accurate and reliable information. How social media is used during disasters will be explored. And, addressing how to best talk with children who have been affected by a disaster.